Communications giant AT&T is looking at making a big purchase that would secure it one of the most popular satellite TV networks in the U.S. AT&T is said to be considering a purchase of DirecTV in a deal that could be worth $40 billion.

If AT&T buys DirecTV, it would make the combined company roughly the size of Comcast. Comcast earlier this year announced its intentions to acquire Time Warner Cable for just over $45 billion. A combined TWC and Comcast would have around 30 million subscribers. If AT&T and DirecTV combined, they would boast 26 million TV subscribers including the 6 million people on the AT&T’s U-Verse TV service.

The AT&T and DIRECTV deal would likely face stiff regulatory scrutiny – just as Comcast is expected to receive -- thanks to the size of the combined entity.

No official comments from AT&T or DirecTV have been offered at this time.